The Past Within review

The Past Within is the easiest two-player escape game to set up across different devices. Rusty Lake puts one player in the past and the other in the future, each seeing a different side of the same mystery, and only by describing what you see can you solve the puzzles. One player sees the world in 2D and the other in 3D. Cross-platform play lets partners mix PC, Mac, iOS and Android, so one person can play on a phone while the other uses a laptop. Rusty Lake gives it 2 chapters with an average play time of 2 hours and recommends replaying from the other perspective, and a replayability feature gives new solutions to all puzzles. It costs $5.99 on Steam, but both players need their own copy and a way to talk, such as a call or the studio's Discord. It is short and has no solo mode. We compared documented features and published prices.

Who it is for

Two players on different devices, including phones, who want a short co-op puzzle.

Price

$5.99 on Steam; each player needs a copy.

Buy The Past Within $5.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• One player in the past, one in the future
• One world in 2D and the other in 3D
• Cross-platform play across PC, Mac, iOS and Android
• 2 chapters with an average play time of 2 hours
• Replayability feature with new solutions to all puzzles

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Two players can mix phones and computers
• Strength: Low price at $5.99
• Strength: Replay from the other side or with new solutions
• Weakness: Co-op only, no solo mode
• Weakness: Short at about 2 hours
• Weakness: Players need their own voice or chat channel

Key facts

• Developer: Rusty Lake
• Released: November 2, 2022
• Average play time: 2 hours
• Languages: 23

Where it ranks

The Past Within is No. 7 in our Best Escape Room Games verdict.